Vol. 2 (2019)

THE PAST AND THE FUTURE OF HUNGARY'S
DIPLOMATIC AND TRADE RELATIONS WITH EAST ASIA

It is my sincere pleasure
to recommend to you our newly published book which comprises a selection of the
best papers of PhD students attending the conference on February 18, 2019
organized by the Oriental Business and Innovation Centre (OBIC) of Budapest
Business School on the triple anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Hungary and Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

In 2019 we can look back
over one and a half centuries to when Hungary established diplomatic relations
with Japan. In 1949, Hungary was one of the first states to recognize the
People's Republic of China and in 1989, on the eve of the change of the
political and economic system and just shortly after the International Olympic
Games in Seoul, Hungary was the very first country of the once socialist bloc
to establish a diplomatic relationship with the Republic of Korea.

Ever since the ancient
Hungarians came down the Carpathian Mountains on horseback and founded the
Hungarian state, Hungary has been a part of European history and has shaped the
fate of the continent, sometimes with a greater, sometimes with a smaller
influence. Hungary has been present on the political, economic and cultural map
of Europe for 1,100 years. Hungarians have learned how to adapt to the given
circumstances, and how to make progress, as well as how to give and take. Right
at the beginning of their newly founded state, the Hungarians were converted to
Christianity, and this provided a framework for the flourishing of Hungarian
culture and intellectual life for about one thousand years.

Both in terms of political
and economic life present day Hungary is fully integrated into Europe, and in
2019 we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Hungary becoming a member
of the European Union and the 20th anniversary of joining the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. Hungary's main investors are European companies
and nearly four fifths of Hungarian foreign trade turnover is done with
European countries.

In spite of all this,
Hungarians are proudly aware that their ancestors originated from Asia, and
therefore feel emotionally close to Asian nations. However, not only the
positive emotions but also well-defined political and economic considerations
bring Hungary closer to Japan, China, Korea and other Asian nations. In terms
of political goals, I think we share common responsibility for the future of
mankind. Global security is undividable; therefore, we should combat together,
hand in hand against climate change, trans-boundary criminality, terrorism,
nuclear proliferation, illegal immigration, human trafficking and other kinds
of global problems. This is the solid common ground on which we share common
values and interests. On the other hand, Hungary recognizes and pays respect to
the spectacular economic development and achievements of the East and Southeast
Asian economies: Japan, the Asian Newly Industrialized Economies, the People's
Republic of China, and most of the ten members of ASEAN. The East and Southeast
Asian regions-together with India and South Asia-are not only the most
populous regions of the world, but the most rapidly growing economies, where
purchasing power has also been continuously growing. It is not a brand-new
issue that Hungary seeks for new markets, investors, investment possibilities
in Asia, moreover these endeavours have gained new impetus since 2012 when the
Hungarian government proclaimed its Eastbound Opening strategy. This policy
favourably coincides with our partners' interest and initiatives, like the Belt
and Road global development strategy initiated by the President of China, H.E.
Xi Jinping in 2013.

The horizon and the
prospective of the future co-operation between Asia and Europe, including
Hungary seem to be unlimited. A new generation of free trade agreements
facilitates the trade between the European Union and Japan and also with the
Republic of Korea, but we can also talk about new generations of professionals,
including our students, who are travelling more and more to Asia or starting to
learn Chinese, Japanese, Korean or other Asian languages. My vision is that in
one or two decades, hundreds of Hungarian businessmen, engineers, medical
doctors and other professionals will be fluent in Asian languages, not just
attained to get well paid jobs at Asian companies, but they will be the
catalysts of the future enhancement of the friendly relations between Hungary
and Asian nations.

This book comprises seven
studies covering various parts of the broad field of Hungaro-Asian
relationships and co-operation. I sincerely hope that the esteemed reader will
find these studies not just interesting but also beneficial. The results and
conclusions may provide the reader with new ideas that could be starting points
for further discussions and research.